hello all,

well I've been to Apeldoorn and to Groningen this last week.. It was awesome.. I spent time with my family (all people I didn't know) but it was great!

I am wanting to go to Brussels on Wednesday.. So from Arnhem to Maastricht for a couple hours then from Maastricht to Brussels and then from Brussels to Den Haag... but I can't figure out your train system prices and stuff...

Is there a pass that I can buy in Arnhem that will be cheaper for me to go to Brussels from here? Like a day pass or something? I'm looking everywhere and don't see anything.. I'm sure I'm just missing it but I don't know where to look...

Any advice?

Thanks!

Nicole

Hello All!

Hoe gaat het met jou? (how are you? pulled straight from my translation book!!)

Jan- Carel! I'm going to the Veluwe tomorrow morning! Then to Apeldoorn to see some family, finding a hostel and then touring around on Tuesday, sleeping there.. and then off on the train to Groiningen... 

3DGuy - yes I do know that there are a lot of dutch in Canada.. I am one of them! My family populated BC with dutch! I have 20 aunts and uncles!! and you should see the city I live in right now! It's dutch city!

Today, I didn't do much.. I am helping out a family that I work for in Canada so I helped them a little today but got to see the area that they live in.. It's so beautiful... not that many hills either... it is cloudy here but still warm to it's interesting trying to figure out if you need to wear a jacket or not... and it's a different warm than Canada..

I also realized today that you really need to pack your clothes atleast 2 days before leaving.. because it gives you more time to think things through.. For example, for pants, all I brought was two pair of jeans! Opps! Today I wanted to go to a church to see what it was like but also to be at a service... But I felt too weird going there in jeans so I just ended up helping with the family I work for. Which turned out to be no big deal.. It was a good day.. I picked up a few more dutch words which is helpful..

I have to find a place that sells the train maps for the Netherlands tomorrow.. and a place to stay.. but I think it will all work out!

Anyone want to come with me and tour the Netherlands? It's going to be interesting!

anyway.. it's night time here... and I just talked with my family in Canada and now need to sleep!

Have a great day/night!

nicole!

Hey Everyone!

Boy.. I haven't been gone long and I'm dying to go through the galleries..

I'm enjoying the Netherlands.. I don't seem to have anywhere near the amount of jet lag as the other people I flew with.. and there are things that are different and things that are the same...

I'll give them.. but I'm sorry for giving the 'plug' for the Netherlands and Canada

Canada... lots of hills!
Netherlands... lots of flat land!
Canada... bigger houses
Netherlands... small houses
Canada... Nothing too special about the house!
Netherlands.. sweet small (sometimes twirly) stairs
Canada.. houses that don't last long (poor wood)
Netherlands... houses that last longer than a lifetime
Canada... lots of houses...(in the city anyway)
Netherlands.. lots of cows!
Canada.. driving rules? what's that??
Netherlands... if you don't listen to those rules you are dead.. but everyone does so you don't even have to wear a bike helmet.. unlike Canada...
Canada.. a language I understand
Netherlands.. I language I understand every 1 in 200 words! (man you talk fast! and all your words are together!!)
Canada.. traditions? what's that? ohh just make your own..
Netherlands.. this is how this goes and don't do that.. or this.. but we are alright if you make a mistake.. you are Canadian....

Canada.. A place I love to live...
Netherlands.. A place that I want to have in Canada..

I will be heading out soon on adventures on my own in a couple days.. I hopefully will find some family to go and see but I don't know.. I'm just going with the flow.. and however that goes is fine with me!

I don't know if you want to hear about all of this.. so unless I get some comments that it's wanted I don't think I'll write more..

Hope you all have a good day/night...

Nicole

THANK YOU EVERYONE!

You are amazing! all the information you have given me.. has been so helpful!

I hope you all well!

I think if I have a chance I'll post while I'm travelling but no promises!

Nicole

ohh boy people.. I think we need to use names here.. because I'm confused too!

I'm sorry Doug that so much stress is on you and your family right now. I hope that every thing works out and that we will see you back here... You have helped me alot with my photography... Don't forget about yourself...

I like the second better but other than that I can't say a thing!

By the way, all the pictures are awesome so far..

First of all, thanks Jan-Carel for all the info.. I am starting to feel more prepared.. even though I haven't done much!

I'm glad that I'll be ok with English...  I love languages and seem to pick them up quickly but yes.. I would love to learn some Dutch.. my biggest problem, I can't roll my r's... hehe...

I noticed the spelling mistake on Groningen but didn't feel like fixing it.. Thanks for the correction... It's only 200klms? Just today I drove that... well give or take a few klms.. and it was just to go to a dentist appointment... just to get to work every day I drive 55klm one way... Anyway... that's all to say.. I don't mind travelling at all.. I may head that way.. I don't know...

Can you tell me anything about hostels? I think I'm going to end up there.. a couple times.. . What do you think is a standard nightly cost? anything I should look for? bring?

One more question too.. Here in Canada, in almost every town there is a tourist centre.. do you have them there too? I'm totally being ignorant to it all.. I'm sorry.. I'm so busy getting ready and working  7 days straight that I haven't had any time to do any research!

Thanks prutzworks! That's what I'm hoping for! and to pick up some of the language!

Jan-Carel!! Boy, have I missed you!

I don't really have many interests.. I just want to see EVERYTHING!

Both my parents were born in the Netherlands... Groningem and Apeldoorn... I want to see those areas... and yes.. I know.. Groningem is quite a ways from where I'm staying..

In some ways I feel that I'll back down and not be adventurous and go places but I really want to see all that I can see..

One thing also, I don't know the language! My parents used it against us kids so they could talk privately around us! I'm hoping to get away with not knowing much..

Thanks for the help!

I think my biggest thing is that I haven't travelled alot... I loe travelling.. I'll get in my car and drive anywhere.. But I've only been to Russia via plane and that is it for big plane rides...

And I don't spend too much money on my own but don't really pay attention to any budget either...

So I guess my question is.. ..If you went away, how much in travellers cheques would you bring?

3DGuy... Sorry.. I do know it's the Netherlands... But everyone that I've been talking to is calling it Holland because they lived there long ago... Sorry..

FuzzyShadows.. That was my mothers condition on me going!!

Thanks everyone for the advise.. more would be well welcomed..

One question.....
I've been told compared to where I live (Canada) it's expensive... But what does that translate to how much money I should bring? You can use US dollars..

Thanks for adding me to the collection! It's such a privilege...

yes.. bug away..... I don't konw others.. atleast I don't think I do..